Total pages in book: 11
Estimated words: 10275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 51(@200wpm)___ 41(@250wpm)___ 34(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 10275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 51(@200wpm)___ 41(@250wpm)___ 34(@300wpm)
I really shouldn’t have flirted with him.
But your honor, his magnetism, his charisma, his intensity…
I stand tall and extend a hand. Zane slides off the stool in one fluid move, rising to his full height and breadth—six-three and two hundred twenty pounds of solid muscle. It’s hard to knock in more than ninety runs a season without being a brick wall.
In seconds, he clears his expression. Mostly, that is. Almost all traces of heat in his bright green eyes fade, but there’s a hint of I can’t fucking believe my luck in his irises.
Maybe annoyance too.
Oh, shit. I went too far. I should have called off the hormone dogs sooner.
Zane takes my hand, but his touch is entirely different from what it was when our fingers grazed as we toasted. His grip is firm, strong, and all business.
Then it’s over, and he lets go first.
I brace myself for any fallout. For Zane to say fuck it to working with me. For me to have to say goodbye to my new gig. Why the hell didn’t I tell Zane who I was?
You know why. You were fucking enchanted.
Vance smiles, clapping the first baseman’s shoulder. “Zane, I’d like you to meet Maddox LeGrande. He’s joined CTM at long last. I’ve been wooing him for ages, and I’m dying to have him work with me on my clients’ deals.”
I give Vance a small, grateful smile, downplaying the compliment. Now’s not the time for me to gloat.
“Seriously. Maddox is magic,” Vance continues, “fucking magic on Madison Avenue. I had to go full court press to steal him and his junior partner, Adriana Martinez, away from Level Up.”
Zane lifts a brow, his interest piqued. “The boutique sports marketing firm?”
“Yes,” I say. “I worked there for nearly a decade, along with Adriana. We were a team repping a select group of clients for brand deals.”
Until CTM made offers we couldn’t refuse. The kind of offers that damn near pay off mortgages.
“Like Nate Chandler,” Zane puts in.
Holy shit. This guy knows the biz. “He’s one of my guys. He’s coming with me to CTM,” I say.
Vance claps me on the back possessively. “And many others. We’re lucky to have him. Maddox’s track record with endorsements is insane.” He turns to Zane. “We’re talking sports stars, actors, and celebrities. Deals with automakers, music streaming services, high-end watchmakers, luxury cars, athletic apparel. I could go on.”
There’s a hungry look in Zane’s eyes as he listens to Vance’s praise for my junior partner and me.
I read Zane like before. He’s eager for what I bring to the table. My business skills might save me from my cock’s faux pas. “Good to officially meet you,” I say to Zane.
“Yeah, it looked like you two were already chatting, which is fantastic.” Thank fuck Vance didn’t hear the tail end of that conversation.
“We were shooting the breeze about the Hawks versus the Renegades this season,” I improvise, giving Zane a chance to do the same. He lives in San Francisco, so it’s reasonable he’ll have an opinion about football allegiances. “Hawks all the way.”
The ballplayer is quiet for a moment, and I hold my breath. This is the moment. I’ll either lose the job I just jumped ship for, or I have a shot to redeem myself.
At last, Zane says, “I’m a Renegades man. And it’s a pleasure to officially meet you too,” Zane says.
Thank you, your honor, for the reprieve.
Zane’s tone is noticeably cool though, and he’s ice when he adds, “Maddox,” with a twist of his lips.
Ah, hell.
He’s covering for me, but he sure as hell is pissed I let the flirtation go as far as it did. I should have introduced myself sooner.
If I could just grab a minute with him before the meal, I can apologize.
“Vance, let me settle up here, and we’ll join you at the table. Zane and I just had a bet going about who’s looking stronger going into training camp this summer,” I say.
Zane waves a dismissive hand. “We can settle up later,” he says, then walks away. I’ll have my work cut out for me to make this right.
I swear, cocks are the biggest troublemakers in the universe.
4
Out of the Zone
Maddox
* * *
As I close my bar tab, I clear my head of lustful thoughts. At dinner, I’ll focus on my credentials—Adriana’s too—and impress Zane with those. I’ll be straightforward and businesslike.
The way I should have behaved at the bar.
After I tuck my platinum card back into my wallet, I weave through the dining room to the booth reserved in the corner. Vance and Adriana are seated on one side, which leaves me to slide in next to Zane. I get another hit of his scent—the hint of oak from his aftershave and soap from his post-game shower. I try to ignore it; it’s already been near-fatal to my judgment.